NAS Whidbey Island SAR Conducts Rescue on Mount Stuart

NAVAL AIR STATION WHIDBEY ISLAND, Wash. – A Search and Rescue (SAR) team from Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island rescued an injured female hiker on Mount Stuart Sunday, July 28.

At approximately 6:15 p.m., the SAR crew received a call to rescue the hiker who had suffered a compound leg fracture. The SAR crew arrived at her location on Mount Stuart at an elevation of about 8,800 feet by about 7:40 p.m. After inserting two crew-members on scene to prep the patient, the SAR crew hoisted the injured hiker and two crew-members aboard the helicopter by approximately 9:40 p.m.

Patient Location

The SAR crew transported the patient to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

Wall Rappel

NAS Whidbey Island SAR has conducted 24 total missions throughout Washington State this year, including seven searches, eight rescues and nine medical evacuations.

The Navy SAR unit operates three MH-60S helicopters from NAS Whidbey Island as search and rescue/medical evacuation (SAR/MEDEVAC) platforms for the EA-18G aircraft as well as other squadrons and personnel assigned to the installation. Pursuant to the National SAR Plan of the United States, the unit may also be used for civil SAR/MEDEVAC needs to the fullest extent practicable on a non-interference basis with primary military duties according to applicable national directives, plans, guidelines and agreements; specifically, the unit may launch in response to tasking by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center (based on a Washington State Memorandum of Understanding) for inland missions, and/or tasking by the United States Coast Guard for all other aeronautical and maritime regions, when other assets are unavailable.